Enantioselective monoreduction of different 1,2-diaryl-1,2-diketones catalysed by lyophilised whole cells from Pichia glucozyma

The reduction of different benzils (1,2-diaryl-ethanediones, 1, symmetric or asymmetric) with lyophilised cells from Pichia glucozyma leads to the enantiopure benzoins 2 in good yields in short times with no traces of diol.